Idris Elba has been hotly tipped to take over from Daniel Craig but he is more focused on his directorial debut Yardie, writes Laura Harding.

“I know it sounds like a cliche but there comes a time as an actor when you’re just like, ‘I wouldn’t mind sitting in the hot seat’,” the 45-year-old admits.

So Elba, star of The Wire, Luther and the Thor films, set about making it happen and his directorial debut, Yardie, based on the 1992 book by Victor Headley, is finally hitting UK cinemas.

“This was a piece of material that I could definitely say I’ve lived with some version of it in my head for 30 years.

“The book was one of the first books I read. So you go, ‘Right OK, if you’re going to make a film, do you make a film about a deep sea diver that discovers a golden dolphin...’

He pauses for a moment, looking baffled with himself. “Don’t know where I’m going here,” he laughs before resuming his train of thought.

“No, because I know nothing about that. But I do know about this culture.”

Indeed Yardie is set in Kingston, Jamaica in the 1970s and Hackney in the 1980s. It follows a young Jamaican man named D who has never really recovered from the murder of his older brother.

After growing up under the wing of a Kingston Don, he is sent to London when he reconnects with his childhood sweetheart and where he hooks up with a soundclash crew and embarks on a quest to avenge his brother’s death.

“I could relate to the lead character of D. His anger - teenagers are always angry - his drive and charisma.

“Victor’s novel captured my imagination and that of the many people that made this book a cult 80s classic.

“I grew up in a similar environment to D; being a DJ, the music, the time period.

“In the 80s, when the majority of this film takes place, that was my coming of age. That’s why I thought this would be the best film to go for.

“I want to direct more now, and perhaps merge acting, music and directing in the future.”

Yardie is in cinemas now.